Apple’s new chief executive, John Ternus, is expected to usher in a new era for the technology giant by unveiling its first foldable iPhone at a major product event in Cupertino, California.
The “Surprise and Shine” presentation at Apple Park is set to showcase a range of new and upgraded devices, with the foldable handset likely to be the centrepiece of Ternus’s first major launch since succeeding Tim Cook on 1 September.
Apple announced in April that Ternus, formerly its senior vice-president of hardware engineering, would take over as chief executive while Cook moved to the role of executive chairman. ([apple.com](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/04/tim-cook-to-become-apple-executive-chairman-john-ternus-to-become-apple-ceo/?_bhlid=c142aca9c4be5677922dad55a34dd718b91e0a03&utm_source=openai))
In a memo to staff, Ternus said: “We have a huge launch … that’s going to be phenomenal.”
Foldable iPhone expected to headline Apple event
The long-rumoured device is expected to mark Apple’s most significant iPhone design change in years, as the company enters a market already occupied by Samsung, Motorola and Google.
Reports suggest the handset will fold to roughly the size of a passport and open to a display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Apple is also understood to have delayed its entry until it could produce a screen with little or no visible crease.
The phone has been linked to several possible names, including iPhone Ultra and iPhone Fold. Bloomberg has reported that Apple may instead call it the iPhone Duo, with a starting price of about 2,000 US dollars (£1,490), an October release and dark blue and white colour options.
Analysts believe Apple’s late arrival could allow it to reshape the still-small foldable smartphone market rather than simply join it.
“The foldable launch is straight out of Apple’s playbook: Wait for the product to work out its kinks and for the market to offer glimpses of viability, then enter and shape the category,” Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee said.
He said the key test would be whether Apple could turn foldables from a niche product into a substantial new category.
iPhone 18 Pro and new Apple wearables
The event is also expected to feature the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The models are tipped to retain a broadly similar appearance to last year’s iPhone 17 range while receiving upgrades to their cameras, software and battery performance.
Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s managing editor, has reported that the phones could receive a smaller Dynamic Island capable of handling three tasks at once, compared with two on current models. Improvements to the vapour chamber are also expected to help control heat.
Apple Watch updates are likely to focus on new colours, cases and bands rather than a major redesign. The Series 12 could see the return of a ceramic case, while the high-end Watch Ultra 4 is expected to offer improved battery life.
A new Readiness app and an updated iPhone Health app are also anticipated, alongside AirPods with improved active noise cancellation.
Apple may additionally announce new HomePod products and updates to the Apple TV 4K, although the company has not publicly confirmed the full line-up for the event.
Chatterjee said Ternus faced both an advantage and a challenge in taking charge of Apple after Cook’s long tenure.
“Tim Cook’s perfected execution, scale, and monetisation set a high bar,” he said, adding that the new chief would need to maintain Apple’s momentum while preparing the business for a future in which the smartphone may no longer be the main way consumers interact with the world.
